Page 71 of Saving His Heart

“Secrets? This is more than a secret, douche bag. Please explain to me how you go from finding out you’re dying to thinking it’s a good idea to keep it from your family for ten fucking years? Do you have any idea what kind of devastation this news is going to bring?”

“Ash, of course I know. But put yourself in my position. I was twenty years old. I didn’t want to live in a bubble. I made this decision a long time ago because I wanted to live a normal life with all of you for as long as possible. Would you have climbed Mount Washington with me last year if you’d known about my heart?”

“What?”

“Do you think East would have gone scuba diving with me in the Dominican if he knew? What about Colton? Would he have done any of the shit he does to me on a regular basis if he’d known? I wanted to live with you, not watch from the sidelines. Does that make any sense?”

“You mother fucker.”

“I’m sorry, Ash.”

“You’re going to die.”

“I am.”

He picks up the lamp in between us and sends it flying through the plate-glass window. I try not to react.

“And she knows?” he asks, nodding in the direction of the bedroom.

I look that way on instinct and become dizzy by the sight before me.

Emory stands in the doorway, holding her arms tightly at her sides like she is trying to hide from herself. Her blonde hair falls over her shoulders in waves. No matter how much I pushed, she wanted a simple white dress with ruffled sleeves that hits a few inches above her knees. She was right about the dress. She’s so gorgeous, I lose all rational thought.

“Goldie, you … your beautiful.” I can’t form any other words. They all get caught in my throat.

“Hi, Ash.” She waves uncertainly.

Regaining some composure, Ashton raises to kiss her hello. “You look beautiful, Emory. Welcome to the family.”

Her eyes blink in rapid succession as she looks between the two of us.

“Ah, thank you? Pres, maybe I should give you guys a minute?”

“No,” Ash and I say at the same time.

“Thank you for taking care of him as long as you have,” Ashton says, softly. “You’ll make a great addition to our fucked up family, Ems. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better sister from this guy.”

“Ash, I—”

“Don’t we have a wedding to get to?” he says in a falsely cheerful tone.

“We?” Emory asks, as surprised as I am.

“You’ll need a witness, right? And no one in this family will ever forgive you if we don’t get some pictures. I’ll be a witness and the photographer,” he says, pulling a camera from his pocket.

Knowing we can’t leave without clearing the air, I try again.

“Ash, I’m going to tell everyone … I am. I just want to wait until after Trevor’s wedding. I don’t want to ruin their day.”

He doesn’t say anything but punches me really fucking hard in the arm. I know I deserve it, and I also know it’s the best I’m going to get from him right now.

“Okay. Everyone ready?”

I chuckle when Ashton asks, “Can I walk you down the aisle, Ems?”

“Ah, I don’t think you actually walk down an aisle in a courthouse wedding, but I appreciate the offer.”

“Preston would be the one to get married in a courthouse,” he mumbles. “Oh, shit. I forgot. Here, consider this a wedding present.”